Solo diving

[ianr33]

What does the "rule" of thirds have to do with open water dives?

 

[AndrewST]

i dive solo and help others with over 3000 dives and strick beleaver of the rule of thirds every diver is solo once they enter the water.

What in gods name did you just say?

 

[ianr33]

What in gods name did you just say?

Nothing!

 

[divingbuddy]

Merlot and internet message boards can make a terrible combination....

On a serious note.....we're all grown ups and will make decisions regarding the degree of risk we are willing to accept when we go for a dive.

For each of us, based on our own persona/interests/experiences/phobias/etc. that will be something different.

What I do for fun and sun may not appeal to others...but since I am comfortable with my decisions, and I do not try and hoist my opinions/beliefs on others, no one should have reason to argue with me.

More time exploring and enjoying the underwater world and less time worrying about what the other guy/gal is doing....sounds like a good idea to me.

Just my two cents...Cheers!

 

[Walter]

I was interested to read Walter's post that he dives the same limits whether he is solo or not. I guess that is self confidence in your abilities, but for me, sod's law says that the little things are more likely to go wrong when you don't have someone to help out, I'd rather try and fix little things in benign conditions lest they become big things.

I look at it like this, I'm either qualified to make the dive or I'm not. If I'm not qualified to make the dive, I'm not going to make the dive with or without a buddy. If I am qualified to make the dive, I don't need a buddy. I prefer diving with a buddy. Sharing the experience is a great deal of the fun. These days I rarely dive solo. Nancy loves diving as much as I do, so there's rarely any reason to dive solo any more.

 

[BioLogic]

I intend to get solo training, once I have a more appropriate experience level, but I don't really foresee doing a lot of solo diving. I want the training because self-sufficiency is good; but I like diving with my buddy.

If we were on a boat and my buddy didn't want to/couldn't do a particular dive, I might go anyway. I consider diving in a group with a DM or diving with an insta-buddy to essentially be diving solo as far as my own safety goes ... though I'd feel obligated to keep watch on the insta-buddy.

 

[DoogaDiver]

I solo dive at our local quarrys and lakes. 80% of time with a group of 3-5 other divers. As many of you know, once you get in lake or quarry with 5' vis people go all different directions and the pre planning is non existent and it becomes solo diving. Most all diving really is solo diving. The exception is that buddy you have been diving with for years. All certifying agencies should come into the 21st century with their training. Many lives would be saved if everyone accepted ( see the poll) that solo diving is prevalent and exists. Teach new divers to be self reliant and then if they wish to have a buddy, do it for other reasons than depending on a stranger to be your savior is a mess up.

just my 2 cents worth,

later,
dktexas54

I agree completely on this theory. I have been a US Army Soldier for 13 years, and one of the things I have learned during my career is that we should always train to the higher standard. Training divers to be self-reliant, as well as to perform rescue diver skills would result in safer divers all-around, whether they chose to dive with a buddy or solo.

 

[mdb]

Solo diving is my favorite type of diving. Solo, is peace and quiet, you and the ocean, no distractions from flashing can lights, drills, silt outs, etc. Much more fun for me.

 

[BonaireDan]

And remember for us instructors that all training dives, parcitularly OW (if you have no DM) are solo dives.

 

[Nemrod]

Instructors in the water with students are hardly solo, they have air to share, people to see and watch them and vice versa.

Solo is alone in the water, wife asleep above, me 120 feet below, ten miles from shore and not another boat anywhere to be seen nor another diver within miles. Now we are solo. It is a completely different thing and a completely different experience with completely different requirements and dangers than splashing around with a melee of students.

N